The Class Couple
  • HOME
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Read
  • Our Home
  • Shop

Project Based Learning: Planning

8/2/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
I like projects. The next step is getting my learners to like "a project". Over the past few years, I've found success in building big idea projects and allowing learners to take control. Since the Spring of 2014, we've held a film festival, community awards ceremony, and a music showcase. Colleagues have asked, "How do you plan such a big project?" or "Aren't you running out of ideas?". Preparing for these projects doesn't happen over night. And if you're like me, many of my best ideas come at the most random times. So, I thought I'd share how I keep my project planning organized.
You first need to ask, what do you want your final product to look like? For our most recent project, I had always wanted my learners to hold a concert. The only problem - I teach social studies, not music. A lot of questions arose - 1. How do I get a bright group of social studies students to "do music"? 2. How can I tie this project to the standards? 3. How do I make it about the ideas and not the music? I needed to sort out my ideas to determine the big connectors and direction of the project.
Picture
Once I figured out that I wanted to make the project more about the community and its relevance to greater world issues, things fell in place.
Picture
I like to build my projects in to three stages. (Quick side note: The entire project, from stage one through the end of stage three, takes approximately 14 weeks.) Each stage is independent in its final product, but the learning/knowledge base builds from stage to stage (to stage). Not only does the information build, the depth of thinking also increases within each stage. That doesn't necessarily mean more content, it just means that I'm asking the learners to engage with their information more closely.
Picture
For Stage 1 of our Spring project, my students completed a timeline that analyzed a global issue that matched their interest. They researched the past 50 years of the issue to build a contextual understanding of the topic.
Picture
Throughout the 14 weeks, students intermittently work on the project. Here's the thing - I recognize that I am not an expert in every topic. I encourage students to seek help outside the classroom. The second stage "strongly encourages" students to gain assistance from professionals - nationally or in the community. 
Picture
At first, students are unsure about this component. But they've gotten some pretty amazing results. Some of my students most notable connections were a professor from Columbia, a prominent expert on Olympic history, and a well-respected surfing historian. AND all it took was a simple e-mail! (There were students who also never heard back from someone they attempted to contact. We had some candid discussions about that - and they were okay!)
These connections don't have to be as grand - they can happen within your building or district. Find people that might be willing to buddy up on a project. The art department at my high school is fabulous and usually willing to team up with enough advance notice. For our project last Fall, one of our art teachers worked with my students on the development of an award and the symbolism involved in the process. This was their final product:
Picture

And with my assistance, Stage 3 usually has students directly working with local professionals. These connections are built in to the process. For the Spring project, my students worked with local musicians to write songs about global issues. This picture is from an early collaboration session. 
Picture
Honestly, there is a lot that goes in to a great project. My students and I have pulled off things that I never imagined were possible. It took a lot of planning, time, and leg-work to pull off these ideas. 
Here's the thing - YOU CAN DO IT! I put together a planner with questions and organizers to help you with the process. Many of the questions are ones that have crossed my mind countless times! Best of luck planning your own project and please let me know if you have any questions!
Picture
By the way --- Our entire store is on sale tomorrow and Tuesday! Please be sure to check out the planner and all our other products that are on sale!
Picture
Picture
Follow
1 Comment
Sex Services Valencia link
10/18/2024 12:18:49 pm

Thank you for shaaring

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture

    Mr. & Mrs.

    We are Becky and Greg from York, PA. Becky just started her 13th year of teaching first grade. Greg is a high school social studies teacher. We love teaching and this blog is a peek into our world. 

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    GoNoodle Inspiration Blog
    Picture

    the library

    June 2019
    March 2019
    August 2018
    February 2018
    September 2017
    August 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    Picture

    tag, you're it!

    All
    Adding
    Alphabet
    Apush
    Assessments
    Authentic
    Becky
    Becky & Greg
    Cause & Effect
    Children's Literature
    Classroom
    Classroom Community
    Classroom Management
    Classroom Tour
    Columbus
    Craftivity
    Criticalthinking
    Currently
    Doubles Facts
    Fact Families
    Fire Safety
    Five For Friday
    George Washington
    GoNoodle
    Graphing
    Greater Than And Less Than
    Greg
    Halloween
    Highfrequencywords
    How To
    Instagram
    Journeys
    Makingconnections
    Math
    Movie Making
    Numbers
    Perspective
    Phonics
    Primary Sources
    Project Based Learning
    Pumpkins
    Purpose
    QR Codes
    Raise Responsibility
    Reading
    Scholastic Book Orders
    Spelling
    Summer
    Summer Prep
    Teachers Pay Teachers
    Technology
    Time
    Twitter
    Videos
    Writing

    Picture

    subscribe

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner



    Blog Design by Alexis Sanchez ©
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.